Program Overview
The Plant and Soil Sciences Program in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture is accepting applications to the on-campus M.S. and Ph.D. degree, Accelerated Master’s Degree, and Off-Campus Professional Soil Science M.S. degree. All individuals pursuing a thesis-based M.S. or Ph.D. degree should first contact a member of our faculty to determine the compatibility of his or her research with your interests and, for Ph.D. candidates, to determine the availability of funding. Individuals who have not made such a connection likely will not be considered for acceptance. If you are uncertain who might be the best match for your interests, please see the list of graduate faculty and their research area at https://stockbridge.cns.umass.edu/stockbridge-graduate-program-faculty or contact Graduate Program Director, Dr. Masoud Hashemi. Students interested in pursuing a fifth-year M.S. or a non-thesis M.S. should contact Graduate Program Director, Dr. Masoud Hashemi to discuss degree options. Those interested in the off-campus M.S. in Soil Science should contact Dr. Baoshan Xing or Dr. Mickey Spokas.
On-Campus Graduate Programs
Background
The Plant & Soil Sciences (PSS) Graduate Program offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, and both thesis and non-thesis Master of Science (M.S.) degrees. The PSS program also offers Accelerated Master's (AcMS) Degree in the Plant and Soil Sciences. A non-thesis, Off-Campus M.S. graduate program in Soil Science is also available. Plant & Soil Science Graduate program provides training, experience, and mentoring to the M.S. and Ph.D. in the full spectrum of agricultural and environmental study, including plant physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, plant pathology, ecology, production technology, soil science, agricultural marketing, etc. The PSS Graduate Program ensures excellence by devoting considerable resources and faculty efforts to the graduate curriculum and preparing the students to be successful leaders in research, education, and industry.
M.S. students (thesis option) are required to take 30 credits of which nine may be thesis research credits. The M.S. non-thesis option is considered to be a terminal degree program and requires additional course work.
Undergraduate students who already are conducting research or an independent internship/project in SSA or related departments will be eligible for the AcMS option. Also, undergraduate students who are not conducting undergraduate research but would like to continue their education in a non-thesis option are eligible. A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 9 credits at the 500 level courses are required to be completed by the end of the senior year for the AcMS. These credits will be transferable to the MS degree if they are within the student’s indicated area of interest, however, the total number of credits, taken across both bachelors and masters programs, must be at least 150.
For Ph.D. students, a personalized curriculum will be designed by the student and his/her Guidance Committee. All Ph.D. students must pass both written and oral Comprehensive Exams. More information about the program’s course and degree requirements, and our Graduate Student Handbook can be found on the Stockbridge School of Agriculture Page. In addition, consult the Graduate School website for general University Graduate Degree Requirements.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants to graduate school should be prepared at the undergraduate level by having taken basic science courses, including biology, botany, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and relevant courses in soils, horticulture, agronomy, plant molecular biology, environmental science, or other areas within plant or soil or environmental sciences, plant biotechnology, agronomy etc. Students wishing to transfer to studies in plant or soil sciences from other fields are encouraged to apply, but may be required to take some undergraduate courses in the plant and soil area to establish sufficient background for advanced studies. Remedial English courses are offered for foreign students having difficulty with the language. Students must also meet all of the UMass Graduate School's admission requirements.
How to Apply
You can apply for admission by completing the standard UMass Graduate School application form available on the web (www.umass.edu/gradschool/). The University and PSS require three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, along with a completed application form for admission. International students are required to submit the English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) along with their application. Applications will be reviewed by a Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Admissions/Policy committee to judge whether the qualifications of the student are acceptable to the program. The Program will then recommend acceptance or non-acceptance, but only the Graduate School can accept a student. The Graduate School application fee must be paid before an application can be reviewed.
Financial Aid
Ph.D. students generally receive up to five years of financial support in a combination of research and teaching assistantships and fellowships. Availability of summer stipend is depended on availability of funding support by the advising faculty. M.S. students sometimes receive teaching or research assistantships, but not guaranteed. Students are encouraged to seek support from several other sources as well. Prospective students who receive full-funding or scholarship from outside agencies, governments, etc. are highly encouraged to apply as their funding makes them desirable. Both the teaching and research assistantships carry a waiver of tuition for the student.
Statute Of Limitations
Upon admittance to the university in M.S. and Ph.D. degree, students should complete all degree requirements within the specified time frame described in the Plant & Soil Sciences Graduate Program Handbook and/or as specified by the Graduate school. This is called the Statute of Limitations. The Statute can be extended by petitioning the school Graduate Program Director. The petition should explain the reason for the delay, anticipated progress, the projected completion date, and must be supported by a statement from your advisor. Contact the Graduate Program Director for additional details.
Accelerated Master’s Degree in the Plant and Soil Sciences
Background
The AcMS program will provide opportunities for solid training in a wide range of studies as offered currently in the SSA MS program: agronomy, horticulture, crop physiology, crop biotechnology, agroecology, soil sciences, weed sciences, turf sciences, and environmental sciences. Currently, research and teaching in SSA focuses on environmental and soil chemistry, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, phytoremediation, plant molecular biology and physiology, crop biotechnology, plant pathology, developing climate resilient crops, food security and safety, sustainable agriculture, and turf physiology and management. Students can select to focus their research and training in any of these.
The opportunity to enroll in the AcMS option applies to undergraduates in all four undergraduate majors in SSA, the interdepartmental Environmental Science program, students from the Five College consortium, and students in any other collaborative programs. Students will indicate their area(s) of interest in application materials.
Pre-requisites for Accelerated M.S.
Students may apply to the AcMS in the first semester of their Junior year, or during their senior year if adequate course and lab work are in progress or completed. Application materials should include two letters of recommendation, of which one letter should be from the student’s research advisor or mentor explicitly assuring that they approve the student’s proposed work. There is no GRE requirement. Applications will be reviewed, and acceptance based on a vote of the PSS Graduate Policy Committee.
Statute Of Limitations
Students must complete their degree requirements within 15 months of the completion of their baccalaureate degree.
Financial Aid
No financial support is committed for the AcMS degree students. Students are liable to pay the tuition and other mandatory fees required by the program and the Graduate School.
Off-Campus Masters Degree in Soil Science
Background
Today's competitive market requires continuous professional development, particularly in academic areas that fell outside one's major during undergraduate training. Our school, in cooperation with UMass Continuing and Professional Education (CPE), offers the opportunity for advanced training in soil science. Students enrolled in this program already hold a Bachelor's degree in a science-related field such as geology, engineering, public health, biology, or environmental sciences. Over a decade ago, the school began offering soil science courses at an off-campus location to facilitate training of non-soil scientists, enabling them to meet the educational requirements for certification as a Professional Soil Scientist. Eventually this program developed into a 30-credit program that upon completion, grants a Master of Science degree in Plant and Soil Sciences. Although the degree is in Plant and Soil Sciences, our off-campus program is limited to the field of soil science. This program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals who do not have the time or the opportunity to enroll in a traditional, full-time graduate program. Most students enrolled in our classes want to further their education because it expands their technical expertise. Others have used the advanced training for job advancement.
The Application Process
You can apply for admittance to the UMass Off-Campus Master of Science Program in Plant and Soil Sciences by completing the standard UMass Graduate School application form available on the web (www.umass.edu/gradschool/). The application process requires that you submit GRE scores less then 5 years old and that you hold a bachelor degree from an accredited academic institution. The GRE scores are a school requirement that is not waived. Please make sure that you apply to the Plant and Soil Sciences Off-Campus program when completing the application form. Fall applications should be received by November 1, and Spring applications by April 30.
Once admitted to the program you will be assigned an academic advisor. Contact your advisor prior to taking courses to ensure that appropriate classes are taken. Once you have taken some courses, your advisor, in close consultation with each degree candidate, will recommend to the Graduate School (through the school Graduate Program Director) appointment of a 3-member Guidance Committee consisting of at least 2 members of the UMass Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Faculty. Eventually the Guidance Committee will take on the role of Examination Committee to administer the final examination.
Important! It is the MS candidate's responsibility to maintain academic eligibility by signing up for a formal academic activity at UMass each Fall and Spring semester. This may be accomplished by taking a UMass course, or signing up for the independent study project or the final seminar presentation. If you are not signed up for a formal UMass academic activity you have to pay the program fee or else you will be disenrolled by the Graduate School. See the Graduate School for details.
Statute Of Limitations
For Off-Campus M.S. degree in Soil Science, upon admittance to the university you have 3 years to complete all degree requirements. This is called the Statute of Limitations. Because most of the students enrolled in this program are working professionals with limited time to dedicate to academic endeavors, most will exceed this time limit. The Statute can be extended by petitioning the school Graduate Program Director. The petition should explain the reason for the delay, anticipated progress, the projected completion date, and must be supported by a statement from your advisor. Contact the Graduate Program Director for additional details.
Transfer of Credits for Courses Taken Elsewhere
University regulations permit transfer of up to 6 credits (grade B or better) for appropriate graduate level courses taken at other educational institutions within three years of admission to the Off-Campus program. You must formally petition the UMass Graduate School for permission to transfer credits for graduate level courses taken elsewhere. The first step is to contact the Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Program Director and request, in writing, permission to transfer the desired courses into your off-campus program. These courses may not have been applied to another degree program.